Iowa State (18-5, 6-5) had five players in double figures, led by Georges Niang's 17 points. But Ejim, coming off a Big 12-record 48 points and a career-high 18 rebounds against TCU, was guarded by Dibo and held to six points — 12 below his average — on 1-of-9 shooting.

“We just knew we couldn't let him score 40 points on us,” Dibo said. “We had to make an effort on him.”

The Cyclones fell behind by double digits midway through the first half and trailed by as many as 32 points late in the game.

It was the most lopsided loss for Iowa State since a 23-point setback at Texas in January 2011.

“It was pretty much, start to finish, just a poor effort on our end,” Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg said.

West Virginia shot 54 percent (35 of 65) from the field, hit a season-high for points and improved to 2-1 amid a stretch of four straight games against ranked opponents heading into a matchup Saturday at No. 19 Texas.

Iowa State's outside scoring was virtually nonexistent until it was too late. The Cyclones were held to 37 percent shooting (26 of 71) in losing their fourth road conference game.

West Virginia coach Bob Huggins called it “by far the best” defensive effort from his team this season.

Kane, a Pittsburgh native, had more than 50 relatives and friends in attendance. He went 1-2 against the Mountaineers while he played at instate rival Marshall and was booed and taunted whenever he touched the ball.

“Tonight we just didn't have it,” Hoiberg said. “I don't know what it was. This group has been very focused and given everything all year.”